Tape-dispensing mechanism



Jan. 5, 1954 A. P. KRUEGER 2,665,078

TAPE-DIPENSING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 27, 1948 Patented Jan. 5, i954 TAPE-DISPENSING MECHANISM Alfred P. Krucger, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Original application December 27, 1948, Serial No. 67,358. Divided and this application July 24, 1950, Serial No. 175,505

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a tape-serving machine and particularly to a machine for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape which tacky or clingable upon one surface. The present application is a. division of my co-pending app1ication, Serial No. 67,358, filed December 27, 1948.

As illustrated the tape-dispensing mechanism is provided with means for supporting a, supply of tape in the form of a roll from which the tape may be drawn by the operator who grasps the protruding end with his fingers and subjects it to a direct pull. The supply roll of tape is rotatably supported so that as the tape is drawn from the device it is permitted to rotate soasto unwind the tape thereon. A severing member is provided adjacent the forward or outlet end of the machine so that the operator may draw the tape against the severing member to tear off the desired strip. It will be understood, however, that the invention herein claimed is not limited to the specific features of the present device referred to above.

In drawing the tape from the supply roll where the latter is rotatably supported, there is often a tendency of the roll to overthrow after the ten-- sion on the tape has ceased, which overthrow sometimes interferes with the length of tape being dispensed and sometimes interferes with a subsequent operation of the device. It is, therefore, desirable in many instances to provide a certain amount of friction or drag for the roll holder upon which the supply roll is mounted so that there will be no tendency for the roll to rotate except when tension is applied thereto. Thus, any overthrow of the roll is prevented and the motion of the roll will stop immediately upon the cessation of tension upon the end of the tape.

There is also provided in the present structure a relatively light and portable dispenser for use with pressure-sensitive tape which is of simple construction so that it may be economically manufactured and at the same time is efficient in operation.

One object of the present invention is to pro-- vide a tape-dispensing machine in which the tape is drawn from. the roll by a pull applied to the end of the tapeand to provide means for placing a drag or brake upon the turning of the roll so as to prevent overthrow thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape having a roll sup-port upon which a supply roll of tape is mounted, the roll support being rotatably mounted in the machine but being subject to a certain amount of friction tending to resist rotation so as to prevent overthrow of the roll during the operation of the device.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a tapedis pensing machine embodying my invention, the cover of the case being removed to expose the interior mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the device; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the axis of the roll holder taken on line 3-45 of Fig. 1.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown a tape-dispensing mechanism comprising a base lfi upon which is supported a standard it to which the ease E2 of the dispensing mechanism is rotatably secured. At its side adjacent the standard the case is provided with a boss [3 (Fig. 3) which threadedly receives a screw [4. This screw passes free- 1y through an opening l5 in the upper portion of the standard It, and its projecting end is secured to a nut 16. It will be obvious that rotation of the nut l6 will cause the standard it to be gripped between the nut and the boss l3 and thus hold the case I2 rigidly in place. When the screw I4 is loosened, the case may be rotatably adjusted about the screw with respect to the standard ll. Also, by unscrewing the screw I t entirely from the boss l3, the case i2 is 'removed from the standard and may be held in the hand of the operator while being used.

Threadedly mounted in the forward portion of the boss I3 is a spindle or shaft it upon which is rotatably mounted the roll holder which sup ports the supply roll of tape. This roll holder comprises a hub I 9 secured to a disk-shaped member 20, the latter having resilient arms it struck therefrom and projecting forwardly at substantially right angles to the disk 29 upon which the supply roll of tape 22 may be frictionally mounted, as shown for example in Fig. 1. The forward end of the hub I9 is recessed as shown at 23 and a spring 2% is compressed between the bottom of this recess and a shoulder 25 formed integrally on the spindle it. This spring, as will be apparent, exerts a frictional drag upon the hub l9 and, therefore, tends to hold the roll holder in any given position unless apositive effort is made to turn it. The amount of this friction or drag can be regulated by ad justment of the spindle IS with respect to the boss l3.

The spindle I8 is reduced in size beyond the shoulder.25 as shown at 26 and then enlarged slightly as shown at 21, this end of the spindle projecting through an opening in a plate-like cover 28 which closes the front side of the case l2.- A spring member 29 secured to the inner face of the cover is adapted to be engaged with the reduced portion 26 of the spindle so as to hold the cover releasably in place. It will be understood that the cover may readily be removed to permit access to the interior of the 3 mechanism for any desired purpose; such, for example, as to place a new roll of" tape upon the roll holder.

The front of the case is provided with an opening 30, and, adjacent one end of. at roller 3| is rotatably mounted in. the case, with which roller the tacky sidelof' the. free. e'nd of. the tape 32 is adapted to engage. It will be apparentthat the operator by pulling on the free end of the tape will cause it to unwind fi orii the suppryroir 22 supported on the roll holder. The ibw'er or tacky side of the tape will cling to the roller 3| so that the free end 32 will project from thecase in position to be conveniently grasped by the operator so that it may be drawn from the machine.

A stripper member 3'; is provided to engage the upper or non-tacky side of the tape and urgev it downwardly against" the roller. 3|, this stripper, as shown in Fig. 2, being in the form of'a' plate ofsubstantially the same width as the roller 3|,

the end of ths stripper adjacent the roller being curved slightly sothat its sharp edge will not comein contact with the tape. I

The stripper is secured to the forward end. of a plate-like member 35' pivoted to the case at 36 so that it may swing rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 about its pivot. 36 and away from the roller 3| so as to permit the tape to contact the severingmember to be hereinafter described. The plate member 35' is-provided'with an arcuate slot 31 within which is received a bolt or rivet 38 secured to the case so as to guide the movement of the stripper about its pivot 36.

A severing member isv provided adjacent the end of the opening which is remote from. the roller 3| so that it normally stands within the case; This member issecured to a. plate-like member 42 pivoted to thecase at 43 so that it may swing forwardly about its pivot to project from the casefor contact by the dispensedend of the tape.

7 The member 42 is provided withan arcuate slot 44 described about the pivot. 43' asa center, which slot also receives the pin 38. A. pin 45 is secured to the plate 42 which pin is. disposed in av relatively large opening 46 in the plate-like member thus linking the plates 35 and 42 together, but due to the fact that the opening 46 is considerably larger than. the pin relativemovement of the two plates is permitted. about their pivot so that when the stripper member 34 is raised. by movement of the tape upwardly from the position shown in Fig. I, the evering member will be moved forwardl so as to bring the tape into contact with it for the severing operation. A spring 41 secured at one end to the pin 45 and. at the other end to the ease normally holds the plate members" 35 and 42 in" the osition shown in Fig. i or the drawings. I

After the severing operation has: beenv compieted the stripper member by reason or lll1 fi61lsion of the spring" 41 will strip the lll'ise'vrdl end of the tape from the severing member" and urge it downwardly toward and against the roller 3|. The frictional drag exerted upon the roll holder by the spring 24 will prevent movement of the supply roll while the free unsevered end of the tape is being stripped from the severing memher and moved into adhering contact withthe roller 3| so as to insure that a suitable length'of the free end of the tape will remain projecting 4, forwardly from the roller to be grasped by the operator. Otherwise, if the roll were free to rotate the end of the tape might be drawn rearwardly into the case.

While the-vs shown and described a preferred embodiment of. my invention, it will be understoodtiiat'. itriot-to be limited to all of the deshown,. but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and i withinthe s'copeof the claims.

What-I claim" 1'. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive. tape comprising a supporting frame, a spindle fixed to said frame, a roll holder rotatably mounted on said spindle, said holder having a hub rotatably mounted on said spindle, a shoulder on said spindle, a spring acting between said shoulderandsaid hub to place. a frictional drag on the holder. said hub being recessed to receive a part ofsaid. spring, and means for securing the spindle to the frame for adjustment in an axial direction toadjust the tension of? the spring.

2. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape comprising. a. supporting frame, a spindle fixed to said frame, a. roll holder rotatably mounted on said. spindle, said, holder having a hub rotatably mounted. on said spindle, a shoulder on. said spindle; a spring acting between said shoulder and. said hub to place a frictional drag on: the holder, and means for adjusting the tension of. said spring said. means comprising a threaded. connection between the spindle and the frame to. permit axial adjustmentof the spindle.

3. A machine for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape comprising a frame, a roll holder rotatably mounted on the frame for supporting a roll of tape; an element mounted on the frame to which the free end of the tape adheres, a severing member spaced. from said. element against which a length of tape may be torn off, a stripper for stripping the unsevered endof the tape from the severing member and moving it against said element, and means for resisting. rotation of the roll holder to prevent movement thereof while the unsevered endof the tape is so moved.

4; A- machine. for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape comprising a frame, a roll holder rotatably mounted on the frame for supporting a roll of tape, an element mounted on the frame to which the=free end of the tape adheres, a severing member spaced from said element against which a length of tape may be torn off, a stripper for stripping the unsevered end of the tape from the severing member and. moving it against said element; and means'for resisting rotation of the roll holder to prevent movement thereof while the unsevered'. end of the tape is so moved, said means comprising a frictional drag on a part of said holder.

ALFRED P. KRUEGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- Numbcr Name Date 1,110,667 Brown Sept. 15, 1914 1,266,197 Berg May 14, 1918 I 2,275,408 Alliss Mar. 10, 1942 2,295,679 Montbach Sept. 15, 1942 2,325,400 Hoover July 27, 1943 2,328,022 Krueger Aug. 31, 1943 2,404,317 Salfisbcrg July 16, 1946 

